Success for North Tipperary Inter-divisional Hurling teams

By Liam Hogan

North Tipperary were successful on the double as the finals of the Peadar Cummins (U13) and Roger Ryan (U14) Cups were finally played on New Year’s Eve.

Peadar Cummins Cup

North Tipp 1-7 Mid Tipp 0-9

Darragh Gaynor’s injury time free helped North Tipp to a one-point victory over Mid Tipp in a well contested final played in Borrisoleigh.

The victory gave North Tipp their first title in the grade since 2014, a victory that made the winners fight all the way when over five and a half minutes were added by referee John Dunne as Mid Tipp laid siege on the North goal, winning two long range frees and a sixty-five inside two minutes but no score accrued.

Conditions were soft but the North were very soon on the back foot as Mid Tipp scored three unanswered points in the opening ten minutes with two from Zach O’Keeffe either side of a Rory Cross point from play.

Mid were the better side in that period as O’Keeffe led the way at half forward. Conor Doherty showed up well, but the standout player was Chris Dunne. The number six operated as sweeper and did it with aplomb as the Moyne-Templetuohy player had a lot of influence on the game.

But things changed in the second quarter. Helped by the hunger of both corner backs Luke Murphy and Adan Whyte plus Shane Ryan and Jack Hayes at midfield that North had much more possession and Shane Ryan scoring North’s opener in the twelfth minute before Hugo Healy added a very good score two minutes later.

However, Mid Tipp recovered lost ground and went three clear again after Conor Doherty’s free in the fifteenth minute and Zach O’Keeffe’s score from play two minutes later.

An angle free by Shane Ryan reduced the margin and after prolonged effort, North Tipp won a succession of 65’s, one which resulted from Alan Bourke’s first time shot from the edge of the small square was saved by a defender.

It was after another 65 when the ball dropped short before James Heffernan had it in the net from close range. Conor Doherty’s free had matters level for half time with the scoreline reading North 1-3 Mid 0-6.

Rory Cross had the Mid in front after three minutes into the second half, but Shane Ryan levelled from long range. Both sides had a measure of dominance, but the Mid goal had a lucky escape when the crossbar came to their rescue after Shane Ryan’s effort was denied.

It took until the 44th minute before scoring resumed when Oisin Kennedy gave the North the lead and two minutes later the lead doubled when Shane Ryan increased his tally following a foul on James Heffernan.

The game went another seven minutes without either side scoring until Conor Doherty pointed two frees in succession leaving scores level as play entered additional time.

Excitement levels had increased and the spectre of extra time beckoned, but the possibility of victory switched to North Tipp after Darragh Gaynor left his goal-line to prize over a seventy-metre free for what tuned out to be the match winner.

North Tipp were deserving winners. Yes, they took a while to settle but once they did there was no looking back with their six defenders playing very well. Each man did his job, but Dan Groome, Luke Murphy and Adam Whyte stood out. Both midfielders Shane Ryan and Jack Hayes will be heard of in the future as will Hugo Healy who played well in attack.

Chris Dunne really stood out in his role as sweeper while Billy Gleeson at wing back showed potential as the remainder of the backline did well especially JR Corpez who operated at midfield although wearing number two on his back. Zach O’Keeffe displayed plenty potential as a scoring forward.

Winning a Peadar Cummins medal can be the steppingstone to greater things but is not the defining moment in a player’s career.

North Tipperary: Darragh Gaynor (Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-1f); Luke Murphy (Roscrea), Rory Hackett (Kiladangan), Adam Whyte (Toomevara); Dan Groome (Borris-Ileigh), Aaron Lee (Newport), Colm Ryan (Newport); Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh 0-4, 2f), Jack Hayes (Roscrea); Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Eire Og), Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-1), Oisin Kennedy (Newport 0-1); James Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Og 1-0), Alan Bourke (Shannon Rovers), Josh Moroney (Ballina).

Subs: Ollie Roche (Newport) for Burke (HT); Michael Dooley (Roscrea) for Moroney (26).

Extended panel: Rian McGrath (Kiladangan); Mark Hoare (Silvermines); Aaron Lane (Newport); Odhran Ryan (Burgess); Charlie Carroll (Roscrea); Michael Gorman (Shannon Rovers); Michael Healy (Ballinahinch); Gerard O’Looney (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Stephen O’Brien (Newport); Iarlaith Conroy (Portroe); Sam Gallahue (Portroe); Adam O’Callaghan (Portroe); Jack Slevin (Borrisokane); Darragh Kelly (Toomevara); Paul Shanahan (Silvermines); Kevin Grace (Ballinahinch); Jack Hourigan (Shanahan Rovers); Jack Ryan (Roscrea); Jayden Loughnane (Roscrea).

Mentors: Paudie Malone (Portroe); Mike Coffey (Newport), David Shanahan (Silvermines) and Stephen Aherne (Roscrea).

Mid Tipperary: Cathal Ryan (Loughmore/Castleiney); JR Corpez (JK Brackens), Larry O’Brien (JK Brackens), Andrew Quinlan (JK Brackens); Billy Gleeson (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Chris Dunne (Moyne-Templetuohy), Paddy Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane); Ciaran O’Mahoney (Durlas Og), Rory Cross (Boherlahan-Dualla); Eoin Kennedy (Boherlahan-Dualla), Zach O’Keeffe (Holycross/Ballycahill), Darragh Cornally (Durlas Og); Conor Doherty (Moycarkey/Borris), Brodie Donoghue (Durlas Og), Adam Norton (Gortnahoe/Glengoole).

Subs: Sean Bourke (JK Brackens) for Norton (36); Niall Gleeson (Durlas Og) for Cornally (52).

Roger Ryan Cup

North Tipp 4-14 South Tipp 1-5

North Tipp were comprehensive winners in the Roger Ryan Cup final when they defeated South Tipp in Templederry.

Blessed with an excellent squad, they had the game won by half time when leading 2-7 to 0-2. Toomevara’s Liam Hackett and Cormac Shanahan were the goal scorers in the 15th and 22nd minutes respectively.

The management team introduced members of the bench in the second half, but the scoring continued with Liam Dunphy and Paul Cahalan accurate from both frees and play while Liam Hackett doubled his goal tally as Paul Cahalan added a fourth goal.

North Tipperary: Andrew Austin (Kilruane MacDonagh); Tadhg McKeogh (Ballina), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Newport), Cullum Ryan (Kiladangan); Johnny Grace (Burgess), Keith O’Donoghue (Burgess), Callum Mitchell (Roscrea); Michael Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Paul Cahalan (Burgess 1-5, 0-1f); Aodhán Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg 0-1), Tom Boland (Kiladangan), Liam Dunphy (Roscrea 0-7, 6f); Liam Hackett (Toomevara 2-0), Scott Garland (Kiladangan), Cormac Shanahan (Newport 1-0).

Subs: Jack Quirke Jones (Silvermines) for Mitchell; Eoin Kelly (Kiladangan) for McKeogh; Brian Toohey (Moneygall) for Cahalan; Robert Horan (Portroe) for Cullum Ryan; Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Dunphy; Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Hackett; Rory Fox (Shannon Rovers) for Boland; Rory Gavin (Kiladangan) for Johnny Grace; Patrick Groome (Borris-Ileigh 0-1) for Garland; Conor McLoughlin (Newport) for Michael Ryan; Ryan Donnelly (Borrisokane)

Management: Oisín Ryan (Kiladangan), Jack Lee (Roscrea), Joe McCarthy (Toomevara)

Darren McGrath (Kiladangan) and Bertie Sherlock (Toomevara) with Paudie Malone (North Tipperary Games Development Administrator)

South Tipperary: Jack Ryan (Ballingarry); Jack Kearney (Skeheenarinky), Michael Dempsey (Clerihan), James Murphy (Ballybacon/Grange); Conor Landers (St. Marys), Colin Roche (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Liam Hogan (Mullinahone); Harry Hickey (Clerihan), Daniel Charles (St. Marys); Luke Lacey (Fethard), Tristan O’Connor (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Jason King (Skeheenarinky); Sam Coen (Fethard), Rory Shelly (Killenaule), Sean Hughes (Kilsheelan -Kilcash).

Subs: Karl Hennessy (Ballybacon/Grange); Kyran O’Meara (Carrick Swan); Colin O’Brien (Mullinahone); Eoghan McAree (Ballingarry); Aaron McAndrew (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Conal Egan (Moyle Rovers); Sean Trehy (St. Marys); James Fitzgerald (Skeheenarinky); Patrick Keating (St. Marys); Thomas O’Donovan (Cahir).